Lung Cancer

Incidence
While the numbers of new lung cancer cases reported for men and women in Connecticut during 2010 were similar (1,285 and 1,307, respectively) the age-adjusted incidence rates for men and women are quite different, due to differences in the age-distributions of the underlying populations – 70.3 per 100,000 in men and 56.2 per 100,000 in women. Incidence rate trends vary somewhat by race and ethnicity.

Lung cancer incidence rates in Connecticut men and women, 1975-2010.

Source: Connecticut Tumor Registry

Mortality
Lung cancer mortality rates track incidence rates due to lung cancer’s high fatality rate and short survival times. Connecticut lung cancer mortality rates for black and white males have been declining steadily, reflecting changing patterns in tobacco use. The rate in Hispanic males, which is considerably lower, has remained relatively unchanged. Rates have plateaued in white and black women and while the rate in Hispanic women is lower, it shows a slight increase over time.

Survival
Around half of all lung cancers are diagnosed at a late stage. Consequently, the overall survival rates for this cancer are poor: 17.3 percent in men and 22.8 percent in women diagnosed 2001-2007.

Lung cancer mortality rates in Connecticut men and women, 1975-2010.

Source: Connecticut Department of Public Health

In Connecticut, there are projected to be 2,780 new lung cancer cases diagnosed in 2013 and 1,740 deaths. Lung cancer accounts for about one in seven invasive cancers and it is the underlying cause for 26 percent of all cancer deaths in Connecticut.Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Connecticut, the United States, (4) and worldwide. (11)

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